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Press Release - Monday, January 27, 2025
Press Releases
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Gov. Pritzker Signs the Kinship in Demand ("KIND") Act
SPRINGFIELD- Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4781, the Kinship in Demand (“KIND”) Act, into law, allowing the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to develop more flexible standards to certify grandparents and other relatives who are able to safely care for youth in DCFS’s care.
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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), in collaboration with Microsoft, today unveiled Ally-IL, a custom application enabling DCFS caseworkers to connect and engage with youth and support networks virtually using a Microsoft Teams platform.
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Gov. Pritzker Announces Launch of BEACON Children's Behavioral Health Portal
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative (CBHTI) announced the public launch of the BEACON (Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation) care portal, a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking youth mental health services and care, including state agency support and community-based programs.
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Illinois DCFS Launches Ally-IL - First-of-its-Kind App to Enhance Communication and Collaboration to Support Youth and Families
Microsoft Teams-powered custom solution revolutionizes communication, improving engagement and positive outcomes for Illinois youth and families
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), in collaboration with Microsoft, today unveiled Ally-IL, a custom application enabling DCFS caseworkers to connect and engage with youth and support networks virtually using a Microsoft Teams platform.
Ally-IL is the first-of-its-kind tool developed to provide a free, real-time collaborative platform. This groundbreaking application offers chat-based tools, enabling DCFS caseworkers, families, children, youth and their trusted circle of alliances—including teachers—to stay connected and streamline communication, all while protecting sensitive information. By fostering secure and timely communication, Ally-IL enhances the support network around every child and family involved.
"Through this public-private partnership with Microsoft, we are changing the way our children and youth in care can stay connected to their families and their DCFS caseworkers," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Ally-IL enhances communication, ensuring that our caseworkers can provide timely and effective support to the children and families they serve. This collaboration underscores my administration's commitment to leveraging innovative technology to improve the well-being of our communities."
"Ally-IL is a state-of-the-art tool designed to help children and youth connect with their ‘alliances,' which include their parents and other family members, foster parents, DCFS caseworkers and others in real time. This app not only empowers children and families but also reduces the administrative burdens on caseworkers, allowing them more time to concentrate on the children and families they serve," said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. "This innovative tool introduces new opportunities for maintaining important relationships and deepening bonds within the entire support system, ensuring a lasting positive impact on the lives of the youth in our care."
Connecting with families and coordinating meetings with support teams has always been time-consuming for caseworkers. Ally-IL provides accessibility via an app on phones, tablets or computers, providing secure channels and chat options to facilitate easy and efficient communication. Instead of relying on phone calls, caseworkers can instantly connect with the entire team through a single message, share documents and photos and ask questions. Additionally, Ally-IL serves as a record-keeping tool, providing a digital log of all conversations for caseworkers and supervisors to review.
"We know it is extremely important for the youth in our care to remain connected to their families and a strong support network, and we also know it can be difficult to get everyone in the same room at the same time for face-to-face meetings - so DCFS worked to find a solution and Ally-IL was born," said DCFS Mobility Product Owner, Information Technology, Laura Van Horne. "It's the first application of its kind, offering tools that allow social workers to create teams and act swiftly to help them streamline collaboration, strengthen connections and ultimately enhance the care and support we provide to children and families."
"Microsoft is incredibly proud to support the groundbreaking Ally-IL initiative. By leveraging cutting-edge communication and collaboration technology, we are enhancing engagement and positive outcomes for youth and families across Illinois. We are honored to contribute to such impactful work that strengthens connections and supports the well-being of our communities," said Carol Workman, General Manager, State and Local Government, Microsoft.
"This innovative and secure tool revolutionizes communication by enabling continuous collaboration between youth in care, their families and DCFS caseworkers, thereby enhancing support for Illinois youth and families," said Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology Secretary and State CIO Sanjay Gupta. "Our commitment to leveraging technology ensures better engagement and positive outcomes for those we serve. With Ally-IL, we are setting a new standard for efficiency and effectiveness in our services.
To learn more about Ally-IL and the positive impact it is having on children, youth, families and their care teams, please click here:
Press Releases
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CHICAGO – Today, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Director Jim Bennett and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) issued a letter to remind public officials and local units of government of their obligations under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003, and the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act (BRHA).
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2025 Illinois State Archery Tournament scheduled for March 22 in Mattoon
SPRINGFIELD – The 2025 Illinois State Archery Tournament is set for Saturday, March 22 at the Emerald Sports Complex in Mattoon. This highly anticipated event highlights the dedication and skill of student archers from across the state. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) have partnered with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) to support Illinois’ top young archers by awarding 12 $1,000 scholarships at the 2025 Illinois State Archery Tournament. These scholarships recognize the dedication, skill, and academic achievements of student archers competing at the highest level.
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Apply now for the youth and family wingshooting clinic in Sangamon County
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Youth between the ages of 10 and 17 can register now for the youth and family wingshooting clinic Saturday, April 5 at the James Orlandini Foundation site located at 5522 Mechanicsburg Rd. in Springfield.
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